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Belfast Sights

Titanic Belfast Visitor Centre

Fodor's Review

This world-class attraction headlines a Titanic Experience exhibition along with showcasing nine linked interpretative galleries that outline the Titanic's dramatic story as well as the wider theme of Belfast's seafaring and industrial heritage. The stunning bow-shaped facade of the six-story building reflects the lines of the great ship, the shard-like appearance created from 3,000 different-shaped panels each folded from silver anodized aluminum sheets into asymmetrical

geometries. The ultimate, startling effect is of light caught by a cut diamond. As you wander through Titanic Belfast you will learn about the thriving boomtown at the turn of the century; the ride through the reconstruction of the shipyards echoes with the sounds and sensations of 100 years ago. In one of the galleries, the ship's saga is brought up to the present with the discovery of the wreck and into the future with live links to contemporary undersea exploration. Also on site is a movie theater designed by the Titanic explorer Robert Ballard (he discovered the wreck in 1985), which shows films about the ship. From time to time new exhibits are added; one of these is the original plan used during the British Titanic Inquiry held one month after the sinking. The historic plan was a vital reference tool and contains markings indicating where the liner struck the iceberg. The inquiry concluded that the loss of the liner had been brought about by "excessive speed." Tours of the center are self-guided; audio guides are available in seven languages and cost £3. Tickets can be bought online (5% cheaper); the least crowded time to go is on Sunday morning. Every Sunday afternoon teas by the grand staircase in the Titanic Suite are held and must be booked in advance. They cost £23, or £29 with a glass of Heidseck Monopole Champagne, the official champagne of RMS Titanic. On the first Friday of each month, 'After Hours at Titanic Belfast' offers an atmospheric experieince in the gallery with Titanic characters in period costume.